The Bird is a Metaphor

A Year in TV Land: 2025

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 03:36:49 GMT

We're back in TV land, baby! Apparently I got terminally distracted when writing my 2024 wrap-up last year, so here's that one as well, if you would like to see me hype Black Sails. I think I watched one (1) movie this year (it was the Muppet Christmas Carol), so this is pretty much my entire watch list in roughly chronological order. As usual, I enjoyed everything unless otherwise stated. Stars are assigned based on how much I liked something / how much I remember it / general Vibes at the time of posting.

Favorite Show: Haikyuu!!

I realize I rated other shows higher with the star system, but Haikyuu!! was such a confluence of my favorite things. Procedural-adjacent shows! Sports! The power of Friendship! Underdogs! Characters with a lot of heart! Ensemble casts! The great highs and lows of victory and defeat! Finding your capital-P Person! I loved the anime, loved what I've read of the manga (aka the ending where the show left off + me starting again at the beginning), and loved the fanvids and fics. This is the show I felt most fannish about, even if I don't (currently) want to write anything for it.

Favorite Season: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 6

I'd heard that season 6 was polarizing, so I'd gone in with tempered expectations, but I LOVED it. *clenches fist* I Can Be Normal About Grief and Its Manifestations.

Favorite Episode: The season finale of The Bear, "Goodbye" (S4E10)

So fucking cathartic, holy shit.

Spoilers

Having Carmy and Richie (and Syd and Carmy) finally communicate and start to clear the air? Richie talking about how he thought Carmy blamed him? The emotion? I was *clenches fist even harder* normal about it, so normal about it, it affected me a normal amount.

( Rest of list under cut )

As always, feel free to leave a comment if you want to share a show you loved this year or have any recs! \0/

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Dear Author Letter: Yuletide 2025

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:49:31 GMT

Hello friend! You’re writing me a story, which automatically means I love you. Feel free to take and twist any of the (loose) prompts below, or go with any of my general likes. And if you think of something completely different that grabs you, write that! I'm excited to read whatever you come up with. \0/

( Rest of letter under cut )

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A Year in TV Land: 2024

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 23:38:17 GMT

Another year in TV land! I watch pretty much no movies, so this should be the entire watch list in roughly chronological order. As always, I enjoyed everything here unless otherwise stated. Stars are assigned by how much I remember watching something / how much I liked it / general Vibes at the time of posting.

Favorite show: Black Sails

This is the first show I watched this year, and it blew my head clean off my body. I feel absolutely feral thinking about it. Pirates! Morality! Colonialism! THE POWER OF NARRATIVE! The sets! Rage?? So much rage. Queer characters! Women! Violence! Love! Betrayal! Grief! MONOLOGUES! Me, literally eating my own heart in the marketplace at the ending! GOD. Is it a perfect show? No. There are definitely some storylines that deserve more screen time or fleshing out, but it's so good. Just. A stunning piece of television.

Favorite episode: Black Sails finale

Listen. LISTEN. I was torn on which episode to pick (obviously it was going to be Black Sails, see the above paragraph), but that ending was JUST!!! Throughout the year I would find myself thinking about it and gesturing in Emotion. Unforgettable.

Favorite moment: Lost

I'm limiting myself to a non-Black Sails pick here, which brings me to the incredibly atmospheric Lost—the K-drama, not the American show—and the disconnect between Kang-jae's actions at his job and his letter to his father. (Apparently the way to make me fall in love with a show is monologues. Who'd have thought.)

( Rest of list under cut )

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Dear Author Letter: Yuletide 2024

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 20:27:53 GMT

Year in Review: Books Read (2023)

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 05:36:48 GMT

Book meme! Borrowed (and slightly shortened, because I don't keep track of some of the original questions) from a post I saw on DW.

1. How many books did you read this year? Any trends in genre/length/themes/etc?
48! More than I was expecting, but padded length-wise with graphic novels and poetry collections. Genre trends lean toward poetry and sci-fi, as well as books written by women.

2. What are your Top 3 books that you read this year for the first time?
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
Loved it?? Weird and existential and meta.

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Fantastic world-building, loved the gender. I devoured this book at speed.

Nervous System by Rosalie Moffett
A book-length poem, beautiful weaving.

3. What's a book you enjoyed more than you expected?
The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley. I usually give historical fiction a miss, because I generally find the setting/time period of historical fiction dreadfully boring. (Oh look, Victorian London! Again!) But I really enjoyed the danger and intrigue of Soviet science.

4. Which books most disappointed you this year?
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. I loved Uprooted, but A Deadly Education was a miss for me. I didn't care for the protagonist, and though the world-building was interesting, it didn't feel balanced against the plot.

5. Did you reread any books? If so, which one was your favorite?
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is my favorite, read in anticipation of Good Omens season 2 coming out.

6. Did you DNF (= did not finish) any books?
None that I got heavily into. If I don't enjoy the beginning of a book, I'll generally put it down and won't remember it.

7. Did you start any books that you’d like to finish in the new year?
I have a bunch of nonfiction books I'm still in the process of reading (very slowly) that I'd like to finish!

8. Did you read any books outside of your usual preferred genre(s)?
I usually read a lot of nonfiction, so breaking back into fiction (especially sci-fi/fantasy) was a change. I'd forgotten how much I love genre fiction.

9. Did you reach your reading goal for this year (if you had one)?
I have no reading goals! For next year, I think I'd like to read more books in translation / global literature. I might see if there are any book bingos that look interesting.

10. What books from your TBR did you not get to this year, but are excited to read in 2024?
I think I want to dive back into series—maybe revisit Discworld or Robin Hobb—and check out more of the Hugo and Nebula winners I missed out on.

If anybody is wildly enthused about a book they read this year, feel free to hit me up! My to-read list is in a constant state of expansion.

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Year in Review: TV Watched (2023)

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 04:04:04 GMT

I started keeping track of what I watch on TV this year (as part of my resolution from last year), but I fell off in like. August. So I may be missing shows from the end of the year. BUT it's been interesting comparing this list to last year's list! I watched a lot more English-language shows, as well as long-running series. Highlights of the year include:

Favorite show: The Walking Dead. My only 5-star show this year, excepting my season 1 re-watch of Good Omens. Loved it lots.

Favorite season: Good Omens, season 1. I get to the ending and I just... sigh in contentment. <3

Favorite episode: Our Flag Means Dead, S2E2 Red Flags.

Spoilers under cut

The universe is still gently reverberating with the force of my blind Emotion when Izzy drags himself on deck and shoots Ed to stop him from killing everyone. The camera pan up? In the rain? The goddamn hero-treatment of the framing? The surety of the look on Izzy's face? That moment of No More? ALL WRAPPED UP in a not-even-thinly-veiled metaphor for domestic violence? Reader, I screamed like I'd just won the Super Bowl, except about ten times more primal. That scene was like a personal live wire, and not just because Izzy is my favorite character. Now, if only the show had managed not to fall flat on its face when dealing with the aftermath.

Runner-up favorite episode: Good Omens, S2E2 The Clue.

Spoilers under cut

Aziraphale and Crowley talking after Aziraphale lies to the other angels about Job's children. That loneliness and rupture. And the two of them sitting on the bench, apart but together. ;___;

The full list of shows is under the cut (stars are assigned based on how much I liked the show / general Vibes), though I liked everything unless stated otherwise.

( A Year in TV Land )

If you have any recs / want to share a show you loved this year, drop me a comment! \0/

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Hooray for Wednesday

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 23:08:55 GMT

Delighted by today's NTY crossword (or, at least the version in the Seattle Times, idk if it's released concurrently or on a delay) and its fandom-adjacent clues.

* 69 across: Not participate openly on social media
* 25 down: "Supernatural" actor Collins
* 33 down: Possessive type?

( Answers under the cut )

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Media Diary

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 23:15:25 GMT

Listening to The Magnus Archives again and deeply enjoying it! I'd started before season 5 came out and then didn't manage to keep up with the new episodes (no spoilers, please!) so I had to restart at the beginning.

(Could I have restarted where I left off? Yes. Would I have remembered anything that happened? Signs point to no.)

I originally started listening because I heard there was a canon ace character who ALSO happens to be the main character, and I immediately said Yes Please, Sign Me The Fuck Up despite sometimes getting The Paranoia when engaging with scary media. I regret nothing.

( Some highlights from my re-listen (featuring spoilers): )

I'm basically caught up to where past!me left off, and I'm deeply excited to dive into the fic after this, a la a small child at a watermelon eating contest. If you have recs, let me know!

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blows off dust

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:06:07 GMT

Hello, friends! Long time no ~~see~~ write. I've wanted to get back into journaling recently, but I felt kind of awkward about it because I'm not as active in fandom anymore. Then I decided I'm going to do it anyway! *shrug emoji*

Things I'll probably be posting about:
* Music thoughts (by which I mean, songs that give me specific character or fic vibes, or which I myself am vibing about)
* Media I'm enjoying
* Possibly fic recs, though don't quote me on that
* ??? (Leave a comment if you have an idea for how I can fill this journal!)

*slaps post* And that's the game plan! As always, feel free to follow/unfollow at will. \0/

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Goals and Resolutions (2023)

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 02:35:26 GMT

Getting my resolutions in early! I have other things I'd like to do as well, but if I set myself strict goals I'll get overwhelmed. I need my resolutions to be gentle and Good Vibes Only lol.

Low Effort
- Hang my artwork on my walls
- Keep a little notebook for books read / TV watched / podcasts listened to
- Take a photo a day for my ~Memory Scrapbook~ aka my brain

Medium Effort
- See if I can get back into journaling again (another check in the Remi Remembers Things category)
- Experiment with finding / making more low-effort recipes to add to my meal rotation

High Effort
- Find / visit a doctor
- Think more about the future / what I want from life (introspection is my one true nemesis)

If you have a low-effort recipe to share with me, someone who uses garlic from a jar + thinks rinsing lentils is too much effort, drop me a comment, I'll love you forever!

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Year in Review: TV Watched (2022)

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 23:07:07 GMT

Oh boy, let's see if my memory is good enough for this! This should be in vaguely chronological order (? possibly ?).

Unless otherwise stated, I enjoyed all of these shows. Stars are awarded on the basis of how much I liked each show + how well I remember it + if I would watch it again + general Vibes at the time of posting. The language is in parenthesis (K=Korean, E=English, C=Chinese).

( Read more... )

If you have any recs / want to share a show you loved this year, drop me a comment! \0/

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Fandom Snowflake Challenge: #1 and #2

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 23:19:06 GMT

Challenge #1: In your own space, update your fandom information!

Done! The last time I'd updated anything I was still deep in Hockey RPF fandom.

Challenge #2: In your own space, set some goals for the coming year.

* Finish the soulmate au
* I'd love to get back into making chapbooks / fandom binding in general
* Write more letters
* Use my command hooks for hanging things \0/

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A Year in Fic (2021)

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 21:28:17 GMT

The Year at a Glance:

Total number of completed stories: Eight, including one DVD commentary!

Total word count: 74,494

( More under cut )

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Dear Author Letter: MXTX Rarepair Exchange 2021

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 22:02:48 GMT

Hello friend! You’re writing me a story, which automatically means I love you.

( Rest of letter under cut )

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ʻEkahi (Word of Honor)

Sat, 27 Mar 2021 20:50:14 GMT

Ke nānā nei au i ka polokalamu kīwī ʻo Word of Honor, a puni au? Laha nā mahele hou i ka hola ʻehiku o ke kakahiaka, ka Pōʻakahi i ka Pōʻakolu. Puni au ʻo Ye Baiyi. /o\ Makemake au kona kūʻēʻē me Wen Kexing. :D

In case it's not clear, I'm learning Hawaiian. \0/ I've heard that keeping a journal is one of the best ways to learn a language, hence me writing in Hawaiian. If anyone is interested in learning Hawaiian as well, Duolingo has a course that can get you started (helped along by the fact that Hawaiian isn't complicated when it comes to grammar or having to conjugate verbs) and Ulukau has dictionaries, books in Hawaiian and English at different reading levels, recordings of interviews with native speakers (started by Larry Kimura, if anyone listened to that recent Code Switch episode), and more. All of these resources are free!

Because Hawaiian is an endangered language, dictionaries can be lacking in places due to age so I'm not sure I used the correct terms for episode / airs? I took a stab! I'm glad I at least have "tv show" from Duolingo. I'm still figuring out compound sentences, so I'm not sure I joined that first sentence right. More reading is required!

( Vocab )

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A Year in Fic (2020)

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 02:52:28 GMT

The Year at a Glance:

Total number of completed stories: 11! Or, at least 11 that I posted on ao3, I think some of my tumblr crossposts were probably written in 2019. /o\

Total word count: 33,712-ISH. Some of those words are Kassie's because we uploaded chatfic together. \0/

( More under cut )

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Reading List

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:14:35 GMT

Okay, I haven't actually finished any of these books yet because I'm currently gnawing my way through two economics tomes, but I felt like making a post anyway. \0/

* Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster by Adam Higginbotham

I'm two chapters away from finishing this, and every part of this book is Terrifying. Like, from all standpoints: nuclear accident / human impact / Russian bureaucracy / mitigation decisions. Bad! Very bad. Like, I know that the worst case scenario didn't happen because Europe is still inhabitable, but that's not exactly comforting tbh.

- Springboard: The Radium Girls / The Gulag Archipelago (my copy) / Before the Fallout (my copy) / Voices from Chernobyl / the HBO Chernobyl series if my library has a copy

* Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy (Fourth Edition) by Thomas Sowell

I LOVE arguing with this book! Thomas Sowell doesn't know it, but he's my NEMESIS. I always thought I didn't care about economics until I started listening to Planet Money years ago, but it turns out I very much do. I really like this book from the standpoint that it covers a lot of material and (I'm assuming) argues the same points as your basic textbook. Also, I get to whip out my critical thinking skills and destroy various arguments and statistics at high volume to anyone who doesn't run away from me fast enough. :D I think Sowell is just about to try and convince me that unions are bad and I'm going to go Apeshit, it's going to be great.

- Springboard: uhhhh the entire econ section at the library / I really want to read some academic econ papers, but I haven't looked into where to find them or what's good / anything on rent control (because I feel like Sowell is wrong, but I don't actually know enough about rent control to fight with him) (don't even get me started on his latest book on charter schools, just thinking about it makes my blood boil)

* The Rise and Fall of American Growth: The U.S. Standard of Living Since the Civil War by Robert J. Gordon

YES, I'm a huge nerd and I love this book! \0/ It's SO INTERESTING, both from an econ standpoint and a history one. Gordon argues that revolutionary advances in technology during the 'golden century' from 1870 to 1970 made rapid economic growth and increases in standard of living possible, and these advances (combustion engines, electricity, telephones, networked houses) can't be replicated, only minimally advanced upon, leading to stagnating growth. I really enjoyed the chapter where he talks about standard of living that GDP can't capture, especially in relationship to housework. The text is tiny (and a truly mind-boggling amount of research must have gone into this book, it's 700 pages long), so I'm not very far in, but I adore it. Also, unlike Sowell, Gordon actually cites his sources. :angel emoji:

- Springboard: The Poison Squad / anything on housework over the years / Empire Express (my copy)

If anyone would like to add a book suggestion to my ever-growing pile, feel free to leave a comment! \0/

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To-Do List

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 21:00:15 GMT

(transferred from tumblr for ease of babbling)

* ~~Find highlighted list~~

It was on top of my Box of Shame (aka where all my books from the last book sale live because I Literally have no room on any of my shelves + I can't stack them against the wall because I ALREADY HAVE BOOKS THERE. The shame is mine, if that wasn't obvious) and under a stack of books that contained Stephen Hawking's Brief History of Time, a book on building the first transcontinental railroad, my copy of the Count of Monte Cristo that I bought because it was pretty, Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men, a book on cholera I need to finish, and a book on the principles of road-building. RIGHT WHERE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. /o\

* ~~Make short-list (from list)~~

DONE. That was easier than I expected. *knocks on wood* I'll have to print things later too.

* ~~Deconstruct gdocs~~

I have... divided things into paragraphs and notes, so like. I guess? ...maybe I should print stuff out and get out my SCISSORS for literal deconstruction, for no other reason than it would bring me joy.

* Write The Things

WORKING ON IT!!! Will report back later.

* I should also start editing my exchange fic while I'm at it

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Dear Author Letter: MDZS/CQL Rarepairs Exchange 2020

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 18:20:07 GMT

Hello friend! You’re writing me a story, which automatically means I love you.

( Rest of letter under cut )

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Reading List

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 21:29:06 GMT

This post has been sitting open in a tab since *checks calendar* uhhh July. /0\ "I'll get back to it," she said. "I won't forget," she said. "I don't have the object permeance of a small child," she said.

Narrator voice: This Was Incorrect.

Anyway, have a very belated reading list!

* Showa 1939-1944: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki

I wasn't as interested in the battle details as the more personal parts + overall history on Japan, but I still enjoyed this! I may have to buy the other two books in the series though, since none of the libraries in the state have copies.

* Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru Mizuki

A (slightly) fictionalized memoir following Shigeru Mizuki and his unit as theyʻre ordered on a suicide charge to make up for the fact that their deaths on a previous suicide charge were erroneously reported. Big focus on the senselessness of both their deaths and war in general. There are some panels that are used in this book as well as in Showa 1939-1944, which I thought was interesting. :D

* To Hell and Back: The Last Train from Hiroshima by Charles Pellegrino

I read this before I realized August would be the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but my timing was spot-on. The focus of the book is on the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombs through accounts of survivors, rather than justification for / against dropping the bombs. Genuinely horrific. I found out later that thereʻs some controversy surrounding the author, but I would still highly recommend it.

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Reading List

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 21:51:40 GMT

* The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

EXCELLENT, highly recommend. Well-written, well-researched, and captivating. I watched Ken Burns' documentary on the Dust Bowl after this and really enjoyed the additional images / footage.

* I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

One downside to listening to the audiobook version was the lack of maps / timelines to refer back to, but it didn't hinder me too much. I listened to this while putting together a puzzle so I wasn't giving it my full attention, but that also kept me from getting Too Paranoid, which is always a possibility when I read stuff on serial killers.

* The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

I read this more for the writing than for the content, because it's very lyrical. I read the first page at work and was like GOTTA BORROW THIS BABY FROM SOMEWHERE. It's kind of a combination of the process of writing + writing advice + stories about Annie Dillard. Some of it I was like, "Yes, this is what writing is like!" and some of it I was like *doubtful squinting*, but the writing was really good. It's also a pretty short book (about 100 pages as a trade paperback), so it's a quick read.

* Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki

Manga! This is the first of four books that span the Showa era, and is part history, part autobiography. I don't know a lot about Japan, but I liked the scope of this + reading about Japan from a Japanese author.

* The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

This felt like the kind of book your aunt gives you when you graduate. I liked the art style, but the philosophy / advice sounded kind of like something you'd find on a decorative canvas at Hobby Lobby. It's... also possible I'm just a cynic.

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A Year in Fic (2019)

Thu, 16 Jan 2020 23:58:21 GMT

I know I'm like two weeks late and ALSO including a fic I """technically""" started posting in January, but please consider: I do what I want. \0/

The Year at a Glance:

Total number of completed stories: 5! I normally go off my ao3 stats, but I have an unpublished fic I wrote which comes after a fic I still have to write. (It's from the Claude/Sid winner's room series, in case anyone is wondering.)

Total word count: 63,441

( More under cut! )

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FIC: All New Rules

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 01:40:06 GMT

Almost forgot to crosspost this baby! I wrote it in two months while also working a string of 50- and 60-hour weeks, which just goes to show that you CAN warp time if you really set your mind to it. Do you like quests undertaken with ENEMIES? MAGICAL LANDSCAPES? SHIFTING RELATIONSHIPS? Have I got a fic for you! Join our intrepid assholes as they journey across the land in what is not a roadtrip fic, seeing as they have no car and no road, but which does contain danger, festivals, annoying habits, casual sex, dragons, and emotions. Can't forget the emotions.

All New Rules (37556 words) by remiges
Chapters: 4/4
Fandom: Men's Hockey RPF
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Claude Giroux/Kris Letang, Marc-Andre Fleury & Kris Letang
Characters: Kris Letang, Claude Giroux, Marc-Andre Fleury
Additional Tags: Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Casual Sex, Rescue Missions, Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Open Relationships

"You know it's the season for flux storms, right?" Giroux asks. "Magical discharge? Hard to navigate?" He waves a hand, as if encompassing the impossibility of sending a message through that. "I thought you were a squire or something. Shouldn't you know this already?"

"Could you get me across it?" Kris asks, ignoring the insult.

Giroux shrugs. "Sure, but I'm a little occupied at the moment." He gestures around at the holding cell. "Even if I wasn't, what's in it for me?"

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Listening Diary

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 17:27:39 GMT

Last week:

* Hadestown (the live original cast version)

I listened to disc one on the way home from work one day, and then I was like, you know what? I'm going to listen to this again going back to work so I can round out the musical on the way home! An excellent plan! Literally all day at work I was like, "Wow! I'm so excited to listen to disc two on the drive home! I can't wait to see what happens! The workers: they tear down the wall because of the crack, yes? And I know Orpheus and Eurydice's story ends the same, but the second part reframes it, right? But what a great place to stop for intermission!"

(Spoiler alert: There is no disc two.)

( Read more... )

If you have album recs, leave them in the comments!

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Listening Diary

Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:00:58 GMT

ALMOST an even dozen of albums plopped under the cut!

( Read more... )

If you have any album recs, leave them in the comments!

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The Bird is a Metaphor

A Year in TV Land: 2025

Dear Author Letter: Yuletide 2025

A Year in TV Land: 2024

Dear Author Letter: Yuletide 2024

Year in Review: Books Read (2023)

Year in Review: TV Watched (2023)

Hooray for Wednesday

Media Diary

*blows off dust*

Goals and Resolutions (2023)

Year in Review: TV Watched (2022)

Fandom Snowflake Challenge: #1 and #2

A Year in Fic (2021)

Dear Author Letter: MXTX Rarepair Exchange 2021

ʻEkahi (Word of Honor)

A Year in Fic (2020)

Reading List

To-Do List

Dear Author Letter: MDZS/CQL Rarepairs Exchange 2020

Reading List

Reading List

A Year in Fic (2019)

FIC: All New Rules

Listening Diary

Listening Diary

blows off dust